Bombardier sells three turboprops

has announced that

s National Air Support (NAS) has placed a firm order for three Bombardier Q300 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) for the Surveillance Australia Coastwatch programme. The order is worth $53 million.

Surveillance Australia already operates five Bombardier Dash 8/Q200 aircraft, which it uses to detect illegal fishing and immigration, quarantine and environmental hazards, drug smuggling and missing vessels in the largest operation of its type in the world.

NAS placed the Q300 aircraft order after winning a 12-year, AUS $1 billion renewal of its contract with Australian Customs. In addition to the three new Q300 aircraft acquired from Bombardier, NAS will purchase and convert two Dash 8/Q Series aircraft from the existing fleet of sister company National Jet Systems to the surveillance role, doubling the size of the fleet.

NAS said the Q Series/Dash 8-300 aircraft also has considerable growth capacity to accommodate future operational upgrades and the extra fuel capacity will allow the aircraft to retain full mission capability during Northern Australia’s tropical “wet season” when other aircraft are impacted by weather-related fuel holding requirements.

“We are gratified that National Air Support once again turned to Bombardier to meet its requirement for maritime patrol and surveillance,” said Derek Gilmour, Vice President, Government and Special Mission Aircraft Sales, Bombardier Aerospace. “Special mission versions of our regional and corporate aircraft are becoming an increasingly important part of our business. They have a combination of robust airframes and efficient, cost-effective performance.”